Method and apparatus for the generation and utilization of steam in an inclosed cycle



1927. 1,616,526 Feb w. P. CAINE IETHQD AND APPARATUS FOR'THE GENERATION AND UTILIZATION OF STE IN AN INCH-10513 1) CYCLE Filed Oct. 19 ,w 1921 Enema 1 tions, namely:

Patented. Feb. 8,

--I UNI'TED STATE-S PATENTTVJOFFICE.

. Warren 11. cams, or Enema-A ABA METHOD AND APPARATUS r0 THE GENERA ION Ann UTImzA'TioN or STEAM m AN INCLOSEDCYCLEu Application filed October 19, 1921. Serial No. {508,744.

This invention relates to apparatus for the generation and use of steam in' power plants wherein the steam is kept in an inclosed cycle, the exhaust steam from the prime mover being separated from the water of condensation, then superheated and passed or drawn into a regenerator by jets of superheated high pressure steam with which it unites, forming a working pressure 1 which is the equalization of the two pressures and is used to drive the prime mover.

This apparatus contemplates that the only I water to be evaporated is the cold water required to replace the weight of steam and water leaking out of the system and the amount condensed by radiation and work.

losses. plants where theexhaust is delivered either to the atmosphere or to a condenser, a greater amount of the heat in the fuel will be delivered inthe form of actual work by reason of the greatly reduced .latent heat loss.

The only driven unit. auxiliary 'to the plant and regenera- V tor, the prime mover, tubing and piping: 1 being shown-1n elevation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the regenerator. Fig.3 is a detail atypical air separator. Y

' Similarreference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the particular design of plant illustrated in my drawings, the. steam generator apparatus is the high pressure steam gencomprising the boiler 1; the

crating section steam super-heating sectlon,

high pressure comprising. the'superh'eater 2; and the ex-' haust steam section comprising the water separatorlS, which supplies the -condensed As this is much less than insteanr feed pump and that is' as it is only required 1 is a vertical cross sectional view' cross-sectional view of.

divided into three distinct secwater to the high pressure boiler supply pump, and the exhaust steam superheater 5. This condensed water from the separator ,18 will flow by pipe 6 to the boiler feedpump' 7, such additional water as is needed t0 replace the leakage from the system being introduced through the pipe 6 from any desired source. Both pipes 6 and 6 may supply cold or hot water as desired, .and from the pump 7 the water'fiows to the hi h pressure boiler 1 wherein its evaporated by the heat from the furnace 9 and is delivered as high pressure steam through pipe 10 to the super-heating coils 2 in the furnace. From the superheater the high pressure dry steam flows through pipe 11 to the nozzle 12 in the chamber 13 ot' the regenerator 3. The exhaust'steam will passthrough the superheating tubes 5 into acollecting chamber 14 and from there it flows to the regenorator through a pipe 15,enter'ing the. side of the regencrator chamber 13. The regenerator3 is an ejector in which the high pressure superheated steam passing through'its nozzle 12 will draw in the 30 superheated exhaust steam, the two equaliziug in the combiningtube 13 and forming steam at. an intermediate pressure which I regard asthe working pressure, as the steam is at this working pressure when delivered to the prime mover 4 through pipe 17. All

ofthe exhaust steam from the primemoverflows to the separatingchamber 18 of the exhaustsuperhcater through a pipe 19, thus completing the cycle. The air is allowed to escape-into the atmosphere by a suitable means such as a vent in the-separator 8 that should be large enough to eliminate all of the air and some of the exhaust steam will probably be. lost at this place. .A typical showing of an air separator is shown in Fig. 3 where the small n0zzle8 will permit a slight escape of steam. entraining with it the air that is collected in the system,'and it will benoted the air separator is connected with the system through pipe 6 which enters at the water line in the separator drum 18 and is thus atthe lowest point in i the separator where the air, which is heavier than the vapor, would tend to collect. Ob- 1 viously any suitable standard air valve or' eliminating element may be used in place of the separator 8 as shown. 7

, The condensedwater will flow by pipe 6 p to the boiler, feed pump 7 and be pumped 110' thereby into the high pressure boiler fast enough to keep the water level in the chamwill flow out of the nozzle or nozzles 12 at 1ts hi hest velocity and therefore will be capab e of drawing in the maximum amount of exhaust steam. I; is desirable to control the high pressure .steam'flow to the regenerator and this I do automatically with a valve in the supply line 11 having a diaphragm 21 actuated by the working pressure supplied thereto bythe pipe 22 tapped into the working pressure line 17.

There should also be an automatic pressure operated valve '23 in the superheated exhaust steam line 15 to the regenerator that willclose if the pressure approaches the maximum which the exhaust superheater is designed to carry. This valve 23 I 0 rate by adiaphragm 24 exposed to the e aust steam 1rf'les'sure beyond the valve 23 by the steam e 25. It is probable that a steamturbine will be the best form of prime high mover to be used, as it is not necessary to contaminate the steam with a lubricant and: thus the exhaust steam would be practically as clean as when it left the steam generator. The steam thus worksin an inclosed cycle, being first utilized at working pressure in a rime mover, then the water is separated m the exhaust steam which is then superheated, the condensed water is returned to the high ressure-boiler, and the steamfrom that bo' eris superheated and utilized to regenerate the superheated exhaust steam to Iform steam at a predetermined working pressure which is delivered to the prime mover, thereby completing the circuit. By the elimination of air and the supply of replacement fIcla water, the volume of steam and water in the inelosed circuit ismaintai'ned substantially f constant.

Having thus described my invention, what im as new'and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. .The hereindescribed method-of generating-and regeneratin .steam in an mclosed cycle, which consists 1n generating hitglh pressure steam, separating the condense water from the exhaust steam from a prime mover,

- 7 water, regenerat returning such watertore lace the water evaporated' to generate 'sai high pressure steam, super-heating the exhaust steam after -h the separation therefrom of the condensed the superheated exhaust steam by commin gling it with high ressure water to steam, delivering the combined hi h and low pressure steam as the workin uid .to said prime mover, and adding suficlent fresh thecireulation to replace losses in the water volume in the system.

. 2. The hereindescribed method of generat- 'ing and regenerating steam in an inclosed cycle, which consists in generating high pressure steam and superheatlng it, separating the condensed water from the exhaust steam from a prime mover and utilizing the water to replace water evaporated to generate said high pressure steam, superheating the exhaust steam after the separation therefrom of the condensed water, regenerating the superheated exhaust steam by eommingling it with high pressure steam, delivering the.

combined high and low pressure steam as the workin .fiuid directly to'said primemover, and ad g sufiicient fresh waterto the circulation to replace'losses in the water volume in the system .3. The hereindescribed method of generate v ing and regenerating steam in an lnclosed cycle, which consists in generating high pressure steam, separating the condensed water from theexhaust steam from a prime mover and returning such water to replace water said prime mover, adding suflicient fresh water to the circulation to replace losses in the water volume in 'thesystem, and separating air from the circulating mediuim 4. The hereindeseribed method of generating and regenerating steam in an inclosed cycle, which consists in generating hiegllgdpressure steam, separating the cond water from the exhaust steam from a prime mover, returning such water to re-,

place water evaporated to generate said high pressure steam, superheating the exhaust steam and eraf it by commingling it with high pressure steam, deliv ermg the combined high andlow pressure steam as working fluid having an intermediate (pressure direetl to said prime mover, a ding suificient water to the circulation to replace losses in the water volume in the system, separating air from the circulating I yand automatically regulating the flow of hi'gh pressure and exhaust steam to said regenerator to maintain 'a substantially-,uniform pressure in the working fluid. H Y 7 5. In combination, a furnace, a prime mover, a high pressure boiler heated y said furnace and adapted to supply live steam for the prime mover to a regenerator, a water separating chamber, a ,pipe for v conducting the exhaust said pri me mover into said-separating amber, a superheater for the'exhaus'tfsteam," a steam regenerator having pipes condu t f the pressure and su' heated steam thereto, and a plpeto erated steam directly .tothe 6. In combination, a furnace, a prime mover, a high pressure steam boiler heated by said furnace and adapted to supply live steam for the prime mover to a regenerator, a superheater to which the high pressure steam is delivered, a pipe for conducting the exhaust steam from said prime mover, a water separating chamber into which said pipe delivers the exhaust stem, 9. super- ,heater for the exhaust steam, a steam regenerator having pipes conducting the superheated high pressure and the superheated exhaust steam thereto, and a pipe to conduct the regenerated steam directly to the prime mover.

7- In combination; a furnace, a prime mover, a high pressure steam boiler heated by said furnace and adapted to supply live steam for the prime mover to a regenei'ator, a superheater to which the high pressure steam is delivered, a pipe for conducting the exhaust steam from said prime mover, a water separating chamber 'into which said cater for the exhaust steam, a steam regenerator having pipe's condtlcting the superheated high pressure and superheated exhaust steam thereto, a pipe to conduct the regeneratedsteam to the prime mover, and means to draw ofi from the water separator air collecting in the inclosed system.

8. A steam power plant including an inclosed steam circulating system. comprising pipe dehvers the exhaust steam, a super- Q aprime mover, a water separator adapted to receive the exhaust: steam of said primemover, an exhaust steam superheater, a high' pressure steam boiler, a return for the separated water to said boiler, a superheater for the high pressure steam, and a regenerator having means for the delivery of both the superheated high pressure steam and the superheated exhaust steam thereto in predetermined relative volumes to maintain the desired working pressure for the steam flowing directly irom the regenerator to the prime mover.

9. A steam closed steam circulating system comprising a prime mover, a water separator adapted to receive the'exhaust steam of said prime mover, an exhaust steam superheater, a high pressure steam boiler, a return for the sepsr rated water to said boiler, a superheater for war plant including an ini the high pressure steam,'a regeneratorhaving means for the delivery of both the superheated high pressure steam and superheated volmnes to maintain the desired working pressure for the steam flowing directly from the regenerator to the prime mover, means to withdraw from the bottonrof the water sepaexhaust thereto in. predetermined relative rator the air tending to collect in the steam circulating system, and

to supply thereto water to replace w 1 In testimony whereof I afix y signaturei GAINE 

